Casey and Dodd to Propose Children’s Council

A National Council on Children could assess the state of children’s health, education, and well-being and make policy recommendations to Congress for improving children’s lives, say the senators preparing to promote its creation. Pennsylvania’s U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. and Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) will jointly introduce legislation — S. 3968 (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-3968) — to create the council. Dodd, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Children and Families, presided this year over hearings examining the state of American children — their health, education, and home and community lives.

“Our children are in crisis,” Dodd said. “It is critical that we create a new national council on children to closely examine the needs of children and identify solutions to improve their lives. With Sen. Casey’s deep understanding of the challenges children in America face, I am confident he will be able to champion this important effort in the next Senate.”

A national council could create “a road map” for public, private, and nonprofit sectors to help children succeed, Casey said. “We will ensure that even in challenging times, American families have the support they need to raise healthy families,” he concluded.